Weakness invites aggression

THE TGWU is under threat of its funds being "sequestrated" as a
result of the strike by baggage handlers in support of Gate Gourmet
workers last August.

Bill Mullins

The Independent says that British Airways (BA) bosses are preparing
to dismiss two shop stewards for the "unlawful strikes" and that the
union can be liable for the £45 million which BA claims it lost due to
the action.

It is clear that the new BA boss Willy Walsh, fresh from his battles
with the workforce of Aer Lingus, is doing his best to put the fear of
god into the TGWU leadership. He is said to be preparing to sack the two
shop stewards for their involvement in the strike. Unnamed sources at
Westminster say that Tony Woodley himself "encouraged" the unofficial
strike and therefore the union is liable for BA's losses.

The union's response is to deny the allegation and say that the union
disassociated itself from the strike at the time.

The union's repudiation of the strike has not made the bosses
grateful. Instead they are using the occasion to further damage the
union organisation in Heathrow, especially as the bosses prepare for
redundancies when they move into the new terminal five.

Woodley's initial response on the TV at the time of the baggage
handlers' walkout was not to repudiate it but to point to the illegal
actions of Gate Gourmet management in sacking his members at three
minutes notice. It was only later that Brendan Gold, the national TGWU
officer for airport workers, came out and condemned the strikers.

Weakness invites aggression and in this case by going along with
Gold, Woodley and the TGWU have put themselves at a disadvantage.

As we said at the time, Woodley's initial reaction was correct but
should have been followed up with a threat to bring all of Heathrow out
on strike immediately, if the Gate Gourmet bosses didn't reinstate the
sacked workers.

Now with the twin threat of sacking and the possible attack on union
funds, Woodley should make it clear that the union will respond with
immediate action.

If the BA bosses move to take the union's funds, the TGWU should call
upon its members to defend the union, at the same time making a call for
the TUC to organise a one-day general strike against an attack on the
very existence of one of the biggest unions in the country.

If the union seeks to mollify Willy Walsh then this will only
encourage him to go on the offensive, including dismissing the shop
stewards and who knows what else.

At Gate Gourmet, the union has agreed a deal that means that over 140
workers named by management are to be made compulsorily redundant as
well as accepting hundreds more going voluntarily. The boss's appetite
is growing with the eating. The union has to say now to Willy Walsh and
BA: "So far and no further."